--OF Ken Griffey Jr. will have a delayed entry into spring action in his return to the Mariners. Manager Don Wakamatsu said Griffey won't play before a March 4 exhibition against Team Australia. Griffey reported that his surgically repaired left knee is still sore but is improving.

--LHP Erik Bedard, who had shoulder surgery last September, took a positive step in his comeback on Feb. 24. He tossed a scoreless inning during an intrasquad game and declared himself fully healthy.

--3B Adrian Beltre still hasn't decided if he will play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The Mariners have asked Beltre, who had shoulder and thumb surgeries last September, to skip the event.

--LHP Jarrod Washburn reported with the hitters, having been given permission to report to camp late. The reason? "I had visa trouble getting out of Wisconsin," he said with a grin.

--OF Wladimir Balentien is the only Mariner with a real visa problem. The native of Curacao is waiting for his paperwork to come through. Manager Don Wakamatsu said the more time Balentien misses, the more difficult it will be for him to make the roster come April.

--OF Ken Griffey Jr. agreed to a one-year contract loaded with incentives, turning his back on an offer from the Atlanta Braves. The plan is for Griffey, who played center field at an All-Star level for the Mariners from 1989-99, to split time between left field and DH.

--LHP Cesar Jimenez (bursitis, left shoulder) and LHP Tyler Johnson (sore left shoulder) are due back throwing off a mound in the coming week.

--C Jason Phillips was signed to a minor league contract and C Israel Nunez was promoted to the big-league camp after C Luis Oliveros was sidelined by an ACL injury that will need surgery. The Mariners were already missing a catcher with Kenji Johjima playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

--1B Mike Carp, whose arrival at camp was delayed by an automobile accident while he was driving from Southern California to Arizona, survived the crash without trouble, although his car was not so lucky. Carp was in camp only one day late and has already impressed coaches, who said they liked his short and compact swing.

--1B Russell Branyan was held out of the workout on Feb. 19 after coming down with minor back pain. He's not expected to miss much time.

--SS Yuniesky Betancourt was held out of full workouts for the first week of the spring because of hamstring trouble. He should return to regular duty in the next few days.

--RHP Josh Fields finally signed with the Mariners, eight months after he was the club's first draft pick out of Georgia. He will work with the big-league team for now, but will go to the minor league team in March. He is, however, expected to get at least one game appearance this spring.

--LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith said he was going to remain with the Mariners in an effort to get a job in the rotation rather than pitch for Australia in the World Baseball Classic.

--INF Tug Hulett, dropped from the roster when the Mariners claimed RHP Luis Pena on waivers, was himself claimed on waivers by the Kansas City Royals on Feb. 19. Hulett stopped by that afternoon to pick up his gear and say his goodbyes.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16,000 -- The number of tickets the Mariners sold on Feb. 19, the day Ken Griffey Jr. said he was returning to Seattle.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I learned a long time ago that I don't have an intimidating look. But I know there are no friends between the lines." -- RHP Roy Corcoran, who will get a look as the closer the spring.

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Seattle Mariners News

--OF Ken Griffey Jr. will have a delayed entry into spring action in his return to the Mariners. Manager Don Wakamatsu said Griffey won't play before a March 4 exhibition against Team Australia. Griffey reported that his surgically repaired left knee is still sore but is improving.

--LHP Erik Bedard, who had shoulder surgery last September, took a positive step in his comeback on Feb. 24. He tossed a scoreless inning during an intrasquad game and declared himself fully healthy.

--3B Adrian Beltre still hasn't decided if he will play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The Mariners have asked Beltre, who had shoulder and thumb surgeries last September, to skip the event.

--LHP Jarrod Washburn reported with the hitters, having been given permission to report to camp late. The reason? "I had visa trouble getting out of Wisconsin," he said with a grin.

--OF Wladimir Balentien is the only Mariner with a real visa problem. The native of Curacao is waiting for his paperwork to come through. Manager Don Wakamatsu said the more time Balentien misses, the more difficult it will be for him to make the roster come April.

--OF Ken Griffey Jr. agreed to a one-year contract loaded with incentives, turning his back on an offer from the Atlanta Braves. The plan is for Griffey, who played center field at an All-Star level for the Mariners from 1989-99, to split time between left field and DH.

--LHP Cesar Jimenez (bursitis, left shoulder) and LHP Tyler Johnson (sore left shoulder) are due back throwing off a mound in the coming week.

--C Jason Phillips was signed to a minor league contract and C Israel Nunez was promoted to the big-league camp after C Luis Oliveros was sidelined by an ACL injury that will need surgery. The Mariners were already missing a catcher with Kenji Johjima playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

--1B Mike Carp, whose arrival at camp was delayed by an automobile accident while he was driving from Southern California to Arizona, survived the crash without trouble, although his car was not so lucky. Carp was in camp only one day late and has already impressed coaches, who said they liked his short and compact swing.

--1B Russell Branyan was held out of the workout on Feb. 19 after coming down with minor back pain. He's not expected to miss much time.

--SS Yuniesky Betancourt was held out of full workouts for the first week of the spring because of hamstring trouble. He should return to regular duty in the next few days.

--RHP Josh Fields finally signed with the Mariners, eight months after he was the club's first draft pick out of Georgia. He will work with the big-league team for now, but will go to the minor league team in March. He is, however, expected to get at least one game appearance this spring.

--LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith said he was going to remain with the Mariners in an effort to get a job in the rotation rather than pitch for Australia in the World Baseball Classic.

--INF Tug Hulett, dropped from the roster when the Mariners claimed RHP Luis Pena on waivers, was himself claimed on waivers by the Kansas City Royals on Feb. 19. Hulett stopped by that afternoon to pick up his gear and say his goodbyes.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16,000 -- The number of tickets the Mariners sold on Feb. 19, the day Ken Griffey Jr. said he was returning to Seattle.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I learned a long time ago that I don't have an intimidating look. But I know there are no friends between the lines." -- RHP Roy Corcoran, who will get a look as the closer the spring.